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Two ĽSNS members who called Islam cruel, disgusting and an inhuman political system, and chair of OĽaNO-Nova movement Igor Matovič who likened the political situation faced by opposition MPs to that of Jews in concentration camps, did not apologise on February 1, as requested.

Matovič (OLaNO-NOVA), Milan Mazurek and Stanislav Mizík (both People’s Party Our Slovakia/ĽSNS), whose remarks were made in parliament, were supposed to do so at the beginning of the parliamentary session’s second day. The MPs thus face a penalty of €1,000 each, the TASR newswire wrote.

Matovič did not attend the parliamentary debate, excusing himself for the absence. Mazurek and Mizík made appearances in parliament, however, they did not apologise for their statements on Islam, claiming that they stand by them. They addressed a mocking apology to Speaker of Parliament Andrej Danko (Slovak National Party/SNS), who filed the motion against them. They called him an advocate of Islam and apologised to him if he felt affected by their comments on Islam.

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Andrej Hrnčiar (Most-Híd) rebuked the ĽSNS legislators. “You’ve misused your time for apologising by defending something you were supposed to apologise for,” said Hrnčiar, who was tasked with leading the session.

Chairman of the parliamentary Mandate and Immunity Committee Richard Raši (Smer) stressed that the comments made by the two MPs affected many people. “You were expected to say sorry in a decent manner today, but you misused the time for your propaganda,” Raši noted, as cited by TASR. “You avow to follow Christianity, but you’ve violated many Christian principles. You are spreading hatred and extremism.”

He also said he would summon the Mandate and Immunity Committee because of Mazurek and Mizík and propose the highest financial fine (€1,000) for them.

Danko does not intend to react to the LSNS legislators. His spokesperson, Zuzana Čižmáriková, told TASR that he is glad they came to parliament without an insignia promoting their party; however, he does not consider their appearance in the chamber an apology and it is now up to the Mandate and Immunity Committee to take steps against them.

Matovič was supposed to apologise for comparing the political situation faced by opposition MPs in the parliament to that experienced by Jews in concentration camps. He claims he has already apologised directly during his appearance in the chamber at the time he used this comparison.